From Arsenal’s blossoming superstar Ethan Nwaneri to Theo Walcott and Harvey Elliott… the YOUNGEST players in history to represent each Premier League club – and where they are now

There’s nothing more exciting for fans than seeing a fresh young talent break through the ranks as a teenager at their football club – just ask Arsenal fans about Ethan Nwaneri in recent years.

Managers are often reluctant to bring youngsters into the mix before they are fully confident the player is ready, which only fuels hopes among fans that the new kid on the block is the real deal.

Mail Sport looks at the youngest player to star for each current Premier League club, with the likes of Theo Walcott, Harvey Elliott and Reece Oxford on the list.

AFC Bournemouth: Jayden Stockley – 16 years and 21 days

October 6, 2009 (v. Northampton Town, EFL Trophy)

Now a 31-year-old striker plying his trade at Port Vale, Stockley made his breakthrough at the age of 16 during Eddie Howe’s first reign at Bournemouth.

He played 21 games for the Cherries, scoring twice in that time.

Arsenal: Ethan Nwaneri – 15 years, 5 months and 28 days

September 18, 2022 (vs Brentford, Premier League)

Arsenal’s 3-0 away win over Brentford in 2022 marked a historic moment in English football as Ethan Nwaneri became the youngest player ever to star in a Premier League match.

With five goals in 20 games so far, the youngster continues to impress as a star for the football club, but is currently sidelined due to a muscle injury.

Aston Villa: Rushian Hepburn-Murphy – 16 years, 6 months and 14 days

March 14, 2015 (vs. Sunderland, Premier League)

Rushian Hepburn-Murphy replaced Christian Benteke with seven minutes to play against Sunderland in 2015, becoming Aston Villa’s youngest ever player. He played just seventeen games for the club.

Still just 26, the forward now stars for League One side Crawley, having previously played for Cypriot club Pafos and Swindon Town since leaving Villa Park in 2020.

Brentford: Ryan Watts – 16 years, 11 months and 19 days

May 7, 2005 (vs Hull City, League One)

Ryan Watts starred for Brentford less than a month after his 17th birthday, making his one and only Bees appearance against Hull City in 2005.

After spells at 11 different clubs following his departure from Brentford in 2006, Watts retired from Wealdstone in his mid-20s.

Brighton: Jake Forster-Caskey – 16 years and 13 days

May 8, 2010 (v. Yeovil Town, League One)

Former England Under-21 international Jake Forster-Caskey made his breakthrough at Brighton in 2010, becoming the club’s youngest ever player against Yeovil Town in League One.

Despite the Seagulls’ meteoric rise to the Premier League since then, the now 30-year-old is still enjoying his football in League One with Stevenage, where he has already made 55 appearances since joining from Charlton in 2023.

Chelsea: Ian Hamilton – 16 years, 4 months and 15 days

March 18, 1967 (vs. Tottenham, First Division)

Chelsea fans have to go back almost 60 years for their club’s youngest ever player, with Ian Hamilton starring against Tottenham in 1967 and drawing comparisons to England legend Jimmy Greaves.

Hamilton, now 73, left the Blues after just five games to join Southend United before making more than 200 appearances for Aston Villa in the 1970s.

Crystal Palace: John Bostock – 15 years, 9 months and 14 days

October 29, 2007 (vs. Watford, championship)

Despite being offered a contract with Barcelona at the age of 14, John Bostock stayed at Crystal Palace to become the club’s youngest ever player. He replaced Ben Watson in a 2-0 defeat to Watford in 2007.

However, his time in the top flight did not go entirely well, as Bostock played just once for Palace and three times for Tottenham. He now stars for non-league team Solihull Moors.

Everton: Thierry Small – 16 years, 5 months and 23 days

January 24 (vs. Sheffield Wednesday, League Cup)

Former Everton and Southampton left-back Thierry Small, still just 20 years old at Charlton Athletic, has high hopes of a return to the top flight of English football after playing for the Toffees in the League Cup as a 16-year-old.

Despite his time at Goodison Park and St Mary’s, the youngster is yet to play a Premier League game, only featuring in the FA Cup for Southampton.

Fulham: Harvey Elliott – 16 years and 1 month

September 25, 2018 (vs Millwall, League Cup)

Another player to make his mark in the League Cup, Harvey Elliott became the youngest ever player to play for Fulham in 2018, having made three appearances there before moving to Liverpool in 2019.

Despite a host of injury problems at Anfield, Elliott has developed into a key member of Liverpool’s squad. He is on course to claim the first Premier League title of his career this season.

Ipswich Town: Connor Wickham – 16 years and 11 days

April 11, 2009 (vs Doncaster Rovers, Championship)

After becoming something of a journeyman in the Premier League and Championship, Connor Wickham first broke out at Ipswich in 2009, starring against Doncaster in the Championship. He played several times for Sunderland, Leeds, Crustal Palace and Sheffield Wednesday.

Having left Charlton Athletic as a free agent at the end of last season, Wickham is currently looking for his next move.

Leicester City: Johnny Grogan – 14 years, 6 months and 9 days

October 19, 1935 (v. Newcastle United, Second Division)

Johnny Grogan, the youngest player on this list by some distance, made his Leicester debut aged just 14.

The Scot played more than 40 games for the Foxes before moving to Mansfield Town in 1947.

Liverpool: Jerome Sinclair – 16 years and 6 days

September 26, 2012 (vs West Brom, League Cup)

Likened to Raheem Sterling by the Liverpool staff upon his arrival from West Bromwich Albion’s academy, the Reds were quick to see what Jerome Sinclair was for and handed him his debut against the Baggies in 2012.

It didn’t quite work out for Sinclair as he struggled to impress and eventually moved to Watford in 2016. The 28-year-old appears to have left football behind to focus on business opportunities. Morley’s food chain.

Manchester City: Glyn Pardoe – 15 years, 10 months and 10 days

April 11, 1962 (vs. Birmingham City, First Division)

Before Glyn Pardoe established himself as a Manchester City legend with over 300 appearances for the club, he wrote himself into the history books as the youngest player in their history against Birmingham City in 1962.

Despite his impact for City, the full-back never played a senior game for England.

Manchester United: David Gaskell – 16 years and 19 days

October 24, 1956 (vs Manchester City, Community Shield)

David Gaskell, a goalkeeper who helped Manchester United win a host of trophies in the 1960s, still holds the record as the club’s youngest-ever player.

He played at Old Trafford for twelve years before moving to Wigan in 1968 and Wrexham in 1973.

Newcastle United: Steve Watson – 16 years, 7 months and 9 days

November 10, 1990 (vs Wolves, Second Division)

Now manager of Darlington in the National League North, Steve Watson first made his debut for Newcastle as a 16-year-old in 1990 before playing a key role during Kevin Keegan’s first spell at the Tyneside club.

The right-back enjoyed a prolific career in both the First Division and the Premier League, starring for the Magpies, Aston Villa, Everton, West Bromwich Albion and Sheffield Wednesday before hanging up his boots.

Nottingham Forest: Zach Abbott – 16 years, 3 months and 10 days

August 23 (vs. Grimsby Town, League Cup)

Zach Abbott is still just 18 years old and has represented England at youth level since 2022, when he first burst onto the scene for Nottingham Forest against Grimsby Town in the League Cup.

With the City Ground club currently exceeding expectations with a fantastic season in the top flight, Abbott is still waiting for his chance under Nuno Espirito Santo.

Southampton: Theo Walcott – 16 years, 4 months and 21 days

August 6, 2005 (vs Wolves, Championship)

Perhaps the most high-profile modern player on this list, Theo Walcott burst through the ranks at Southampton as a teenager before moving to Arsenal in 2006, where he received a call-up to join England in the World Cup that summer.

The winger scored an impressive 106 goals for Arsenal in 382 appearances before moving to Everton in 2021. Since retiring again from Southampton, Walcott has become a pundit and is now a regular on Sky Sports.

Tottenham: Alfie Devine – 16 years, 5 months and 9 days

January 10, 2021 (vs. Marine FC, FA Cup)

Alfie Devine was a youth player for Liverpool and Wigan before progressing to the Tottenham ranks. Alfie Devine remains Spurs’ youngest ever player after his performance against Marine FC in the FA Cup four years ago.

The Tottenham star, now 20, is in the third loan spell of his career at Westerlo in Belgium, having previously played at Port Vale and Plymouth.

West Ham: Reece Oxford – 16 years, 7 months and 24 days

July 2, 2015 (vs. FC Lusitanos, Europa League qualification)

Reece Oxford enjoyed a series of excellent performances early in his West Ham career, which started against FC Lusitanos in the Europa League qualifying stages.

Although it ultimately did not work out for Oxford at West Ham, the now 26-year-old star has had better luck in the Bundesliga with Augsburg in recent seasons.

Wolves: Chem Campbell – 16 years, 10 months

October 30, 2019 (vs. Aston Villa, League Cup)

Chem Campbell is still on the books at Wolves, six years after becoming the club’s youngest ever player, but he has made just eight appearances for them.

That’s because the Welsh winger is often loaned out to gain experience in the football league, with Wycombe, Charlton and current club Reading all offering an opportunity for Campbell away from Molineux.